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Articles: Press Release
Ashley Holzer and Pop Art Win Prix St. Georges at Zada Enterprises, LLC
Florida Dressage Classic at Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington
PHOTO CAPTION: Ashley Holzer and Pop Art
PHOTO CREDIT: SusanJStickle.com
Contact:
Mary Hilton for Phelps Media Group, Inc., International
at (561) 753-3389 or at pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
WELLINGTON, FL - February 16, 2006 - Competition at the Zada
Enterprises, LLC Florida Dressage Classic in Wellington, Florida, kicked
off today with a win for Canada's two-time Olympian Ashley Holzer riding
Pop Art, her nine-year-old Dutch gelding in the FEI Prix St. Georges
Open. The stunning chestnut scored 70.125% to top a field of 20 horses.
In second place, Charlotte Bredahl Baker, a member of the U.S. 1992
Bronze Medal Team in Barcelona, rode Eskada to a 68.00%. Taking third
was Canadian Susan Dutt-Roth riding Rheirattack who earned 65.875%.
Judging the FEI Prix St. Georges were Brenda Minor at C and Anita Owen
at B.
"This horse proves yet again how consistent he is in the ring," said
Holzer. The pair most recently claimed victories at the CDI3* Gold Coast
Opener in Loxahatchee, Florida, where they won the Prix St. Georges,
Intermediaire I, and the I-I Freestyle, and then went on to win the Open
FEI Prix St. Georges at Wellington Dressage at the Winter Equestrian
Festival two weeks ago. "I am still so pleased that with all that's
going on, he's willing to work hard and pay attention to me in the
ring," Holzer added.
In the Prix St. Georges today, Holzer said that she was most pleased
with Pop Art's trot work, noting that, "The trot tour felt very rhythmic
and steady." Holzer was also very pleased with Pop Art's four-tempi
changes, as the horse has been schooling one-tempis (flying changes
every stride) and anticipates that movement. "I've had some issues with,
'Are we doing ones today? Are we doing fours today? Are we doing twos
today?' - so today, he really did wait for me in the ring and he
listened to me for the fours even though he wanted to do the ones,"
Holzer said. She is also schooling Pop Art in the piaffe/passage at home
and explained, "So of course when you go in the ring he wants to piaffe
now. I was very pleased that he was able to keep his lid on for the
changes and do really nice clean, straight rhythmic, on-the-aids
changes."
"Poppy" was a six-year-old showing Second/Third Level when Holzer began
working with him two-and-half years ago. She has trained him to his
present level and plans to show him in the Grand Prix by the end of the
season. She points out that Pop Art has been marking successes all the
way up the levels in his career with her so far. "I don't think he's
ever lost," said Holzer. "For a long time now, he's won every class
he's ever been in."
"He's awesome," noted Eva Pracht, who coaches Holzer when they are both
in Florida. Pracht lives in Canada and Holzer resides in New York.
Pracht and Holzer were teammates on the 1988 Canadian Olympic squad that
won the Team Bronze Medal in Seoul (Holzer also competed for Canada at
the 2004 Athens Olympic Games). "Pop Art is just a wonderful, wonderful
horse," Pracht enthused.
Denielle Gallagher, Holzer's barn manager and an accomplished rider,
assists with the riding at home and is also a Pop Art fan. "He's a fun,
energetic, and kind horse," she said.
Holzer, an official member of Dressage Canada's Short List, brought 12
horses (both client-ridden and her own competition horses) to Zada
Enterprises, LLC Florida Dressage Classic, including Imperioso and
Gambol, the two horses she has declared as her candidates to qualify for
the 2006 World Equestrian Games.
In other FEI competition today, Nancy Later riding Alexis-D won the
Intermediaire II with a score of 68.934%. Julia Vysniauskas aboard
Papillion placed second with 67.967%. Mikala Gundersen riding Pinochhio
VI was third with 67.561%.
Judging the class were Jessica Ransehousen at E; Jeanne McDonald at C;
and Sue Madden Mandas at M.
For complete results of today's competition, visit
www.stadiumjumping.com or
www.phelpsmediagroup.com
Winter Equestrian Festival Dressage Schedule
* February 16-19 - Zada Enterprises, L.L.C. Florida Dressage
Classic
* March 16-19 - Zada Enterprises, L.L.C. WEF Dressage Classic, CDI
3*/Y
* March 17-18 - USEF National Grand Prix Freestyle Championship /
U.S. League Final CDI-W, the Official Selection for the 2006 FEI World
Cup Dressage Final
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